Government Issues New Guidelines for Kenyans Seeking Jobs Abroad.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has unveiled a series of reforms aimed at improving the process for Kenyans seeking employment abroad.
Among the changes is the introduction of a new registration system for employment agencies.
This announcement was made during a meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Thursday, where private recruitment agencies and home care training institutions were in attendance.
Revised Registration and Renewal Process
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua outlined the changes, stating that the initial registration certificate for new employment agencies will now be valid for one year and will cost Ksh.500,000.
He further noted that the renewal period for these certificates has been extended from one year to two years.
The fee for renewal will remain at Ksh.500,000 for two years or Ksh.250,000 per year, with the option for a one-year renewal.
These changes will take effect from September 23, and even those with pending renewal notifications will benefit from the new regulations.
To enforce compliance, the National Employment Authority (NEA) has fully staffed its compliance department.
Training and Orientation Program Overhaul
Dr. Mutua also announced changes to the pre-departure training and orientation programs. For workers in homecare, the combined homecare management and pre-departure training will now last 14 days instead of 26.
The new schedule allocates 10 days for homecare training and 4 days for pre-departure orientation.
For skilled migrant workers in other fields, pre-departure training will be reduced to 2 days. The assessment process will take 5 days, and certification will be issued within 3 days thereafter.
The assessment for these programs will be based on a 100-point system, with practical assessments conducted by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) contributing 65% of the score.
Continuous evaluations by trainers will account for 25%, while the remaining 10% will be based on pre-departure theory, covering literacy and civic education.
The pass mark is set at 60%. NITA will distribute revised guidelines to all trainers by November 1 to support the new curriculum.
Exemptions and Practical Training Enhancements
In addition to the training reforms, Dr. Mutua announced that migrant workers who have previously completed contracts in Gulf countries as domestic workers will be exempt from the homecare and pre-departure training requirements.
He emphasized the importance of practical training tailored to the cultural context of the destination countries.
As part of this, NITA is constructing a model house in Mombasa designed to replicate an Arabic home, which will be used to prepare domestic workers for employment in Saudi Arabia.
To assist trainers, NITA will provide pictures and designs showing the minimum standards for Arabic homes.
The cost of homecare management and pre-departure training will be capped at Ksh.14,000.
These reforms aim to streamline labor mobility, aligning with the government’s target of deploying between 5,000 to 10,000 Kenyans to work abroad weekly.
Summary of Key Reforms
| Reform Area | Change Implemented | Cost/Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Agency Registration | Initial certificate valid for 1 year | Ksh.500,000 |
| Renewal Period | Extended to 2 years | Ksh.500,000 (2 years) or Ksh.250,000 (1 year) |
| Homecare Training | Combined with pre-departure training (14 days) | – |
| Skilled Workers Training | Pre-departure training reduced to 2 days | – |
| Training Assessment | 100-point system (60% pass mark) | – |
| Exemptions | Workers with prior Gulf contracts exempt | – |
| Training Facility | Model Arabic home in Mombasa | – |
| Training Cost | Homecare and pre-departure capped | Ksh.14,000 |
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These measures are expected to significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the recruitment and deployment process for Kenyans seeking employment opportunities abroad.
Government Issues New Guidelines for Kenyans Seeking Jobs Abroad.
